Post Falls man hurt in train-truck crash in Nebraska

POST FALLS - Friends are rallying to help a Post Falls man and his family after he was critically injured in an accident last week.

Lawrence Clifford, 43, was one of two Idaho men hurt Jan. 12 when a train struck their semitrailer truck at a crossing on a county road near U.S. Highway 30 about six miles west of Sidney, Neb.

According to the Associated Press, the driver was Bruce Elam, 52, of Boise, while Clifford was the passenger.

Both men were flown to Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff. Hospital spokeswoman Joanne Krieg said Thursday that Clifford was in serious condition, and Elam was in fair condition.

Clifford's wife, Tina, employed at Northwest Specialty Hospital in Post Falls, traveled to Nebraska to be with her husband.

Susan Mashek, who works with Tina Clifford, said they were told Lawence Clifford suffered a broken neck in the crash and is facing paralysis.

The couple have three children, including a 17-year-old son at home.

Mashek said Clifford received his long-haul truck driving license last year.

The Associated Press reported that Cheyenne County Attorney Paul Schaub said there were crossing signs denoting the tracks but no crossing guards.

"We don't know what happened," Mashek said.

The train struck on Clifford's side of the truck. Pictures showed a crushed truck that was tossed far from the impact site.

"We can't believe they're even alive," Mashek said.

To help the Clifford family, a bank account in Larry Clifford's name has been established at Idaho Independent Bank, which has branches in Coeur d'Alene and Hayden Lake.

Mashek said Northwest Specialty Hospital employees are donating money and giving vacation time to Tina Clifford so she can be with her husband.

"Any way we can try to help her at all," she said.